Your 2019 reading list: Plant-based and clean meat essentials
HAPPY 2019!! Team, it’s official: “2019 will be the year alt-meat goes mainstream.” At least, so says Fast Company.
Case in point, Carl’s Junior is partnering with Beyond Meat; McDonald’s is market-testing a plant-based burger in Chicago; Impossible Foods is moving towards expanding from restaurants to retail; and Nestle is launching a plant-based “Incredible Burger.” Add to this Aleph Farm’s recent breakthrough with cell-based steak and JUST’s plans to debut clean chicken in restaurants as soon as yesterday.
In short, there’s no time like the present to hone your expertise on all things plant-based and clean meat. As you resolve in 2019 to sleep 8 hours every night, meditate every morning, and learn something new every day, we’ve got just the reading list for you:
This starter kit for sustainable protein includes everything from GFI’s peer-reviewed publications on the science of plant-based and clean meat to regulatory insights and updates. Find a sampler platter below:
- Meat by the Molecule: Making Meat with Plants and Cell: GFI Senior Scientist Dr. Liz Specht takes to the pages of The Biochemist to explain plant-based and clean meat.
- GFI Market Research 2018: Nielsen data commissioned by GFI shows retail sales of plant-based foods that directly replace animal products have grown 17% in the past year to over $3.7 billion. Plant-based meat sales are up 23%.
- An Ocean of Opportunity: Overfishing across the globe has driven numerous ocean ecosystems to the point of collapse. This white paper highlights opportunities to advance plant-based and clean seafood solutions.
- First Amendment Factsheet: Soymilk, black bean burgers, peanut butter—this concise factsheet cites relevant case law to document that plant-based companies have a First Amendment right to clear communication with consumers.
So-called “alt-meat” isn’t just for the vegetarians and vegans anymore. As Senior Marketing Manager Caroline Bushnell told Fast Company, “In the last few years, as we’ve seen more companies innovating and thinking of their market base as all consumers and meat eaters.”
This is the opportune moment to ensure you’re well-versed in the innovation, science, technology, and policy behind planet-friendly proteins. Here’s that link again.
Author
Mary Allen
Mary Allen is a science writer, creative strategist, and GFI alum focused on the intersection of sustainability and emerging technology. Find more of her work at mary-allen.com.
